From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Talent Farm show surprises with musical mix

June 27

By Dana Burke
McFatter Technical High

Having been at The Talent Farm many times, I was fully prepared to hear the same pop-rock local bands that always seem to grace The Talent Farm stage.

Much to my surprise, the show June 27 included a range of entertainment, from an all-acoustic set to hardcore influences, and even a comedian.

First up was Rene, forming the one-man-band Acutemess. Complete with guitar, tambourine and ukulele, he brought a refreshing sound to the venue.

Musical instruments, snaps, whistles, claps and stomps were all used during the set, invoking audience participation.

Nervous glitches were obvious but added a real quality to his first Talent Farm performance.

Rene swears his name, Acutemess, is "acute" angles, not "a cute mess," but his songs, including Urge and The Fence, were cute both melodically and lyrically.

Next up was Miami's own Giants.

During their set, the lyrics "we won't hold back" stuck into my mind because the band did not hold back one bit. The pop-punk sound was undeniable, and their compelling stage presence got everyone in the audience on their feet.

Third on stage was Spinlight City, a pop-rock band from Miami. Singer Rayko Batista was all over the stage, bringing his lyrics to life. At one point, he even got into the crowd to sing along with the audience.

A boy in a banana costume brought an unexpected, but entertaining end to the set.

The only band from Orlando, To My Dearly Beloved, switched things up a bit with a hardcore-influenced pop-punk sound, including breakdowns and deep-throat screams. This caused a small mosh pit to open up in the center of the room.

Their mini-cover of Paramore's Misery Business and Journey's Don't Stop Believing got the attention of the audience with full force. Soon enough, everyone was singing along.

What happened next was the most unexpected and strange occurrence of the night: A comedian took the stage for some "comedic relief."

However, he was not funny one bit. Pity laughter could be heard from some audience members, but more than half of his jokes produced no response.

The vulgarity of his humor did not amuse. Finally, he gave up, making way for Planet Parker. The quartet has an everyday pop-rock sound that is popular on the music scene.

The song Saturday, about "the best day of the week," was also the best song of the set. Although typical-sounding, the boys put on a high-energy show. It was easy to admire the passion they felt for the music.

The bands all brought enthusiasm for their fans and music to The Talent Farm, making for a fantastic show.